The last rites of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar were performed with full state honours at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati on Thursday, as the state bid farewell to one of its most influential political figures. Pawar’s sons lit the funeral pyre and conducted the final rituals amid emotional scenes.
A large number of people gathered at the venue to pay their final respects, reflecting the deep public grief following his untimely demise. Supporters raised slogans of “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe” as his mortal remains were brought to the ground.
Several senior leaders and dignitaries attended the funeral, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar, and actor Riteish Deshmukh. Senior Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde and his daughter, Praniti Shinde, were also present.
Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, sons Party and Jay Pawar, nephew Rohit Pawar, and other family members were among those who attended the last rites. Earlier in the day, his mortal remains were accorded full state honours as they were taken to the Vidya Pratishthan ground for the funeral.
Meanwhile, investigations into the plane crash that claimed Ajit Pawar’s life continued. Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and forensic teams reached the crash site in Baramati on Thursday. The aircraft had crash-landed on Wednesday morning, killing Pawar and five others. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Maharashtra Director General of Police were also present at the site.
The Pune Rural Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) at the Baramati Taluka Police Station in connection with the incident. Confirming the development, a police official said, “Pune Rural Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) at Baramati Taluka Police Station in connection with the air crash in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar lost his life. Further investigation initiated.”
Union Minister Raksha Khadse described the incident as deeply distressing and said the state would struggle to replace a leader like Pawar. Speaking to reporters, she said, “The accident yesterday is heart-rending. Nobody had thought that something like that would happen. We were all sad to hear the news yesterday. I think Maharashtra will not have any other leader like Ajit Dada. He worked in the interiors. He was a good leader who played a big role in Maharashtra’s development.”
Ajit ‘Dada’ Pawar died in the plane crash at Baramati airport while travelling to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad elections. Born on July 22, 1959, in Deolali Pravara in Ahmednagar district’s Rahuri taluka, Pawar built a long and eventful political career marked by both challenges and achievements.
Popularly known as “Ajit Dada,” he was admired for his grassroots connect and tireless work across Maharashtra. Alongside his role in government, he played a key part in managing cooperative institutions, including milk unions, federations, sugar factories, and banks.
His political journey began in cooperative bodies before taking a major turn in 1991, when he was elected to the Lok Sabha. He later vacated the Baramati seat for his uncle Sharad Pawar and went on to serve in multiple capacities, including MLA, Minister of State for several important departments, and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of the state in non-consecutive terms, leaving behind a legacy that has had a lasting impact on Maharashtra’s political and developmental landscape.
